-- THE Original Rocket Festival

A – G Challenge

Build one rocket and without major alterations fly it on an A motor, then a B, then a C … all the way to a G If one flight fails. You are eliminated. Survivors race to recover on the G flight.

The Rules

The only modifications that can be made to the rocket once the challenge starts is changing a parachute or streamer, use of various motor adapters, and the use of a radio tracker for all flights with E-G motors.

If the rocket is going to use electronics, the systems must fly in the rocket on all flights, regardless of whether they are turned on or not

if you are going to use a Jolly Logic chute release for any flight, the chute release mechanism must be in all flights. You don’t have to turn it on or use it, but it has to fly with the rocket on every letter and its weight counts in the overall dry weight limit.

Rockets must have active motor retention and must be recovered with expended motors still installed.

Tumble recoveries are not permitted. The rocket must actively deploy some sort of recovery system, parachute, streamer, helicopter, etc.

Maximum of one total igniter failure per flight.

The maximum diameter of the primary motor tube is 38mm, which is the largest diameter available of any commercial G motor.

At least one motor must be used without any adapter, meaning if your primary motor tube is 38mm, you must fly at least one 38mm motor.

Clusters may be used on some flights they are only BP motors, and the entire cluster will fit into the primary motor tube.

Cluster motors will be calculated as letter values up to C, such as 2 x ½A = 1 A, and total impulse from D to G.

Apart from the A flight, failure to ignite a motor in a cluster is grounds for elimination since for instance, on a B flight, using 2 A’s, when only one motor ignites, it is just an A flight, unless the total impulse above C that ignited still fits into the correct letter class (e.g, if 3 out of 4 E9’s fire on a G attempt, it is still a G flight because total impulse = 84 NS).

The exception to the primary motor tube rule is if the rocket is specifically built as a cluster rocket and the flier agrees to fly at least two motors every flight. All cluster tubes must then be the same diameter. Adapters can be used for each motor tube but they cannot be a single assembly joining all motors.

Safety issues:

Rocket must have at least 1 cal. of stability for every flight. This will be checked if there is reason for concern.

Maximum weight of the dry rocket with any empty motor adapters in place is 4.75 oz.

An additional 1.5 oz is allowed to place a tracker inside the rocket for flights with E-G motors

Rockets must use 3/16” launch lugs for all flights through F, and 1010 rail buttons/guides for the G flight. Both sets of lugs and buttons/guides must be installed prior to the first flight.

Rocket must completely deploy its recovery system before touching the ground

The only permissible damage that can be repaired is reattaching one fin, a zipper no longer than ½ inch, reattaching a launch lug or rail button/guide, minor dents in the airframe and reattaching a parachute shroud line. Repairs must be made prior to the next launch rack.

The winner will be the rocket that survives all seven flights and is the first one recovered after the G flight (please be mindful of the field).

Because saucers and pyramids have an unfair advantage in that they do not fly very high and thus can be recovered quickly, the first of these recovered would be identified as a separate winner … sort of a cheater’s first prize.

All launches will be on Saturday, May 25, at these approximate times (may change as field conditions warrant):